Optometric Assistant
Salary

Women comprise the majority of Optometric Assistants in the United States. Individuals in this line of work make around $11.84 per hour on average. Geography is the biggest factor affecting pay for this group, followed by career duration. Slightly less than a third report receiving medical coverage from their employers and approximately one in seven collect dental insurance. Most workers in this position report high levels of job satisfaction. This report is based on answers to PayScale's salary questionnaire.

XTotal Pay combines base annual salary or hourly wage, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime pay and other forms of cash earnings, as applicable for this job. It does not include equity (stock) compensation, cash value of retirement benefits, or the value of other non-cash benefits (e.g. healthcare).

XTotal Pay combines base annual salary or hourly wage, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime pay and other forms of cash earnings, as applicable for this job. It does not include equity (stock) compensation, cash value of retirement benefits, or the value of other non-cash benefits (e.g. healthcare).

Job Description for Optometric Assistant

Optometric assistants perform a number of duties in an optometrist's office or a similar setting. On of the main tasks these assistants are responsible for is preparing patients for eye exams and/or vision therapy. They also schedule appointments, document case histories, updating patient records, and organizing records. Additionally, optometric assistants are in charge of administering tests to patients related color and depth perception, near- and farsightedness, field of view, and macular integrity. In all tasks, optometric assistants must ensure the work environment remains safe, clean, and attractive to clients; this includes cleaning instruments and making sure eyeglasses inventory meets office demands.

Optometric assistant positions can be full time or part time depending on the needs of the hiring office. They generally work in private optometrists' offices and stores that sell glasses and contact lenses.

Basic requirements for optometric assistant positions include relevant training from a vocational school and/or an associate's degree. Optometric assistants must have excellent communication skills, be knowledgeable about the field and their office's products, and keep up to date on all relevant rules and regulations in their field. These assistants must work well on their own with minimal supervision, as well as in a team setting. They should have good customer-service skills as well.

Optometric Assistant Tasks

Assist Optometrist with examinations and maintain patient charts.

Take patient history and perform preliminary examination of patient.

Fit and dispense glasses and contact lens for patients.

Common Career Paths for Optometric Assistant

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It's not very common for Optometric Assistants to move on to become Optometrists. Average pay for an Optometrist is $93K annually. However, becoming a Optometric Technician or Office Manager of a Medical Office is a more frequent transition for Optometric Assistants.

Optometric Assistant Job Listings

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This chart shows the most popular skills for this job and what effect each skill has on pay.

Survey takers who work as Optometric Assistants typically report just a few professional skills. Most notably, skills in Insurance, Customer Service, Billing, and Patient Education are correlated to pay that is above average. Experience with Billing is often linked with knowledge of Customer Service.

Pay by Experience Level for Optometric Assistant

Median of all compensation (including tips, bonus, and overtime) by years of experience.

Optometric Assistants do not generally earn higher incomes from more experience in the field. The average worker who claims fewer than five years of experience earns around $24K. In contrast, however, individuals who report five to 10 years in this occupation see a much larger median of $27K. The average pay reported by folks with 10 to 20 years of experience is around $30K. Folks who have racked up more than 20 years in the field report incomes that aren't higher than less experienced individuals' earnings.